Printing press



June 1932- E. J. SMITH 1,861,825

PRINTING PRESS Origiqql Filed March 50, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 l3 H 93 152 150- 3 z7,z I 9 3 E. J. SMITH rnm'rxue PRESS June 7,1932.

Original Filed March 10, 1926 3 Shear-Sheet 2 June 7, 1932. E. J. SMITH 1,851,825

PRINTING PRESS Original Filed March 10, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 l, I a, 2

I 4 I39 H9 6% INVENT y I I ATTNEY Patented June 7, 1932 UNITED STATES PAT N ERNEST JAMES SMITH, F LON'DOIM ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR TO THE GOSS HEZIINTING PRESS COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS- PRINTING rnnss Original application filed March 10, 1926, Serial No. 1929. Serial This invention relates to a novel web supplying and controlling mechanism, and more especially in certain of its features to such a mechanism for supplying and controlllng webs for printing presses and folders. The present application is a division of my former application Serial Number 93,569, filed March 10,1926.

Objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part hereinafter and in part will be obvious herefrom, or may be learned by practice with the invention, the same being realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations pointed out in the appended claims. 7

The invention consists in the novel parts, construction, arrangements, combinations and improvements herein shown and. described.

The accompanying drawings, referred to herein and constituting a part hereof, illustrate one embodiment of the invention, and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention.

Of the drawings:

Fig. l is a general view of the web supplying and controlling mechanism of a printing press, illustrative of the preferred form of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a transverse View with part of the printing press frame shown in section;

Fig. 3 is a detail elevation of one form of combined clutch and brake device;

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 4.--4 of Figure 3 and showing the device geared to the driving shaft;

Fig. 5 is an end view, looking from the right of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a diagram illustrative of the electrical circuit for operating and controlling I the clutch and brake device;

Fig. 7 diagrammatically illustrates an electrical arrangement for controlling the brake and clutch device; and

Figs. 8, 9, 10 and 11 are diagrammatic views illustrating a mechanical arrangement for operating and controlling the combined clutch and brake device. I

The invention is primarily directed to providing a variable speed drive for the Web ing or other web 93,569. Divided and this application filed March 1, No. 343,643.

supply rolls of printing presses or other webusing machines and is designed to provide such a drive which has a very wide range of variation in speed, capacity of control under diiferent conditions of operation of the print ing press or other web using mechanism, and with a very effective automatic control for the driving or braking force applied to the supply roll. i I

The invention as here shown is applied to the web supplying mechanism of a rotary web'press and is more especially, though not exclusively intended for use with the web renewing mechanism, as set forth in my prior patent application Ser. No. 75,5l3,filed"De-" cember 15,- 1925.

It will be understood that the foregoing general description and the following detailed description as well are explanatory and exemplar of the invention but are not restricted t ereof.

In the presentpreferred embodiment for securing these results, means are provided for supporting a pair of web rolls, from which the web maybe drawn off to the printing press or other web using machine. The general frame work, by which the web rolls are supported comprises a pair of upright members v i 15, at each end of the machine, connected together by cross'bars 17. Near each end of the machine,supports (not shown) are providedon which the web rolls are rotatably journaled, and from which the exhausted web r'olls may be removed 'and/ replaced by new web rolls, durin the operation of the printusing machine. The'web maybe led from either roll to the web-using machine andfor guiding it in its passage to the press there are provided guide rollers 22.

hen one web roll becomes exhausted, it is necessary to replace it by a new web roll, and the end of the new web rollmust be joined to the end of the old or exhausted web roll. For quickly accomplishing this operation, without seriously interrupting or slowing down the web-using machine, means are provided for joining these two ends together by movement of a singlelever, and as here embodied comprise a pair of rollers 24 mounted in arms 25. Movable toward and irom each other by means of gear segments 26, 27, rigidly connected to the arms 25. Extending from the shafts on which the arms supporting one of the rollers are mounted is a lever 28, and movement of this lever moves the rollers '24 simultaneously toward and away from each other. For holding the leading end of the web to be joined to the end of the exhausted roll, and maintaining it in position prior to the joining operation, rollers 30, 31 are mounted adjacent rollers 24 and are spring pressed thereagainst. The leading end of the web may be passed between rollers 24, while they are separated, and held between roller 30 or 31 and one of rollers 24 until such time as the two webs are joined. This mechanism is more fully described in my copending application Ser. N 0. 75,513 filed Decembeli 15, 1925 and need not be described in detai For initiating, and then controlling, the rotation of the new web roll, as its leading end is joined to the exhausted web, means are provided for frictionally engaging the periphery of each web roll and rotating the web roll, which means are preferablybrought into action by movement of lever 28 in joinin the web rolls. As here shown, shaft32, ]0uI'- naled in bearings mounted on the side frame members 15, carried two spaced pulleys 33 of equal size, over which run belts 34 contacting with the periphery of web roll 20. The lower end of belts 34 pass around pulleys 35, which terlilsion the belt and press it against the web r0 v For driving belts 34 or for retarding their movement to control the unwinding of the web from the web rolls in accordance with the operation of the printing press or other web using machine, differential earing is provided connecting the shaft with a. power driven gear 36. As embodied in the present illustrative mechanism, bevel gear 38 is keyed to shaft 32, near one end, and meshes with the differential pinions 40 journaled in drum 41. Pinions 40 also mesh with bevel gear 42, loosely journaled on shaft 32; to this bevel gear 42 is rigidly secured a second gear 43 meshing with power driven gear 36 driven from some moving part of the press, or from a separate source 0 power, as desired- Clutch means are provided for controlling the movement of belts 34, to drive them or retard their movement, and comprise a brake bearing with regulable pressure on drums 41 of the differential and thereby causing shaft 32 to rotate in accordance with the rotation of gear 36, or allowing the drum 41 to slip so that the shaft rotates at only a fraction of the speed of the gear. Preferably, and as here shown, this brake comprises a brake shoe 45 provided with a suitable'brake lining 44, the shoe being provided with paral- 'lel sleeves 46 fitting over and slidable along guides 47, mounted on bracket 48 attached with the brake solenoids.

to the machine frame 15. Extending away from the central portion of the brake shoe is'an armature 49 projecting within the core of solenoid 50. Spring 52 normally keys the brake shoe out of contact with the brake drum 41 and energization of the solenoid causes the brake shoe to be pressed into contact with brake drum and stop the rotation of the drum, and thereby shaft 32 is coupled to and driven by gear 36.

For driving and controlling the rotation of the other web roll, similar means are provided comprising a pair of driving belts 55, running over pulleys on shaft 54 and held in frictional contact with the periphery of the web roll by weighted pulleys 56. Shaft 54 carries at one. end a differential 57, brake drum 60, electromagnetic brake 61 and gear.

58 which drives the shaft 54 and pulleys through the differential gearing when the electromagnetic brake is energized. Gears 58 and 36 are driven in unison from shaft 59, which may be connected with some moving part of the press or with a separate source of power.

For retarding rotation of the web rolls after thewebrollshave'beeubrought up tospeed by stopping the rotation of the drum 41 and 60 in the differentials, the electromagnetic brakes may be released to any desired extent leaving the drums free to rotate and the friction of the differential gears will then exert a braking action on the pulley shaft, and result in the tensioning of the web.

Means are provided for automatically gove'rning the operation of the brake so that the tension of the web remains substantially constant and comprise variable resistances 63 in series with thesolenoids of the electromagnectic brakes, and means for varying the resistance in accordance with the tension of the web in passing from the web roll to the printing press or other web-using machlne. As shown in the present illustrative embodiment pivoted arms 64 support a roller 65 positioned in a loop in the web and movable in accordance with the tension of the web in being fed from the web roll to the printing press or other web-using machine. Arm 64 has pivotally connected to it a bar 68 carrying brushes 69, insulated from the bar, which brushes bridge the contacts between the resistances and, on movement of the arm 64, cause a variation in the resistance in series Loop roller 65 is pulled downwardly, against the tension of the web, by spring 66 and the roller is rendered less sensitive to sudden, small'changes in web teiision by dash pot 67, so that it responds relatively slowly to changes in web tension and does not disturb the setting of rheostat 63 where the conditions are merely transitory. Any great or relatively prolonged change in web tension will result in a correspending variation of the resistance to maintain the tension at the desired value.

For energizing the electro-magnetic brakes when lever 28 is moved to join the new web to the web from the roll becoming exhausted, there is provided a switch 71 having'contacts 80, 81 and 95, adapted to be closed by the movement of lever 28, thus starting the driving of the belts and initiating the rotation of the new web roll as its leading end is joined to the exhausted web. Also mounted on the frame of the machine are brake control switches 72, 73 each including switching members 96 and 98, which allow either of the electromagnetic brakes to be applied or released.

Where it is desired to provide-a manual control for the web tension, in addition to the automatic control already described, variable resistances 93 may be mounted on the frame 17, and connected in series with the variable resistances 63 and the brake solenoids. By varying these resistances93, the tension of the web, as determined by the automatic control, can be increased or decreased to suit the existing conditions under which the mechanism is operating.

The above-described parts of the mechanism may be conveniently, and preferably are, combined in a single circuit and Fig. 6 shows, diagrammaticall the circuit connections for the various elements, and as embodied, the circuits are duplicated, the one shown on the right hand side of this'figure being used in connection with the starting of one paper supply roll and the other circuit on the left hand side being used in connection with the starting of the other paper supply roll.

When the operating lever 28 is depressed in order to bring the pressure rollers together for joining the rear end or part of the active web tothe leading end of the reserve web, the contacts and 81 are bridged or con nected by a contact strip on the said hand lever thereby establishing a-circuit which may be traced as follows :from the positive line 82 to contact 80, contact 81, point 83, point 84, thence through the coil 50 of an electro-magnetic clutch and brake associated with the driving shaft of the belt pulley 33,

to the negative line 85, thus putting the said coil direct across the positive and negative lines so that the clutch is operated for enabling the shaft 32 of the said driving pulleys 33 to be rotated for operating the belts 34 and rotating the paper supply roll 20. In

addition to the circuit just referred to a holding circuit is established as follows :from the positive line 82 to contact 80, contact 81, point 86 through the coil of a solenoid switch 87 thence to negative line 85 through closed push button 88, the energizing of the said solenoid coil by this circuit causing the two arms or blades 89 of the solenoid switch 90 scribed in connectionto move into the closed position. When the operating lever 28 has been moved upwards after having effected the joinin of the two webs of paper as hereinbefore escribed the following circuit maybe traced :from the positive line 82 to point 91, point 92, through one arm or blade of the solenoid switch 90, and to, negative line 85 through the closed push button 88 and solenoid 8 I This circuit therefore maintains the solenoid switch 90 closed after the o erating lever 28 has broken the connection etween the contacts 80, 81. Another circuit may be traced from the positive line 82, the point 91 through the other arm or blade of the solenoid switch 90, through variable rheostats 63 and 93 to point 84, then through the solenoid 50 of the electro-magnetic clutch to the negative line 85. Thus this'circuit contains the coil and the automatically varied rheostat 63, as'well as the rheostat 93, which may circuit according to requirements. The operation of the electro-magnetic clutch shown on the left hand side of Figure 6 is identical and simultaneous with the operation of the clutch on the right hand side of this figure and the clutch solenoid circuit on the left hand side is established as a result of the contacts 80 and 95 being bridged by the contact stfrip on hand lever 28. After the joining o clutches are actuated as describedbut by pressing either of the normally closed push uttons 88 or 96 the respective clutch coil cir-- cuit is broken so that the clutch is operated to stop the operation of the driving pulle 33 or 97 and the belt 34 or '55. In each of t e two circuits for operating the two clutches, a normally open push button 98 or 99 is rovided, the one on the right hand side as? serving to connect the contacts 100, 101 when pressed into the closing position, thus putting the clutch into operation for causing the actuation of the belt 34 in the same manner as dewith the bridging of the contacts 80,81 by the contact strip on the lever'28. The other normally open push button 99 can be operated to 'put the left hand clutch in o eration.

. A modi ed form of web-tensioncontrolling mechanism is shown in Figures 8, 9, 10 and 11 of the drawings, in which mechanical means are employed for operating the differential brakes, in place of the electrical apparatus above described. In this embodiment be used to insert or cutout resistances in this the two webs has been effected the two of the invention, an increase in the tension of the web acts, through mechanical connections, to increase the pressure of the brake shoes on the differential brake drums and means are provided whereby the actuation of either of the brakes can be interrupted, as

I desired.

In this modified embodiment of the invention, a differential drum 41, carrying the internal differential pinions is mounted on the driving shaft for the web roll driving belts 34. For stopping the rotation of thedifierthe tension of the web. Depending arm 115,

ential and brake drum 41 to drive the web rolls by means of the friction belts 34, a brake shoe 110, pivoted at 111, is connected to pivoted lever 113, the upper end of said lever being joinedto arm 115 by link116. As the lever 113 moves counter-clockwise, the pressure of the brake is increased and the rotationof the web rol is speeded up to reduce loosely mounted on shaft 119, is formed with a raised portion 117, .with'which engages latch 118 resiliently urged against thelower .arcuateface' of arm 115. Latch 118 is slidable'in'guides-12O formed in bell crank 121 falsolooselymounted on shaft 119. Another arm of bell crank 121 is connected by link 122 with pivoted lever 123 supporting one end'of a loop-roller 124 riding in a loop formed in the web between guide rollers125 and 126. As the tension of the web increases,

, loop roller 124 rises and, by means of the connecting mechanism, presses brake shoe 110 into contact with the differential and brake drum 41, speeding up the rotation of the web roll.

,An opposite movement of the loop roller causes the brake to be released and increases the tension of the web, by reason of the drag exertedon the belts 34 by the friction of the shown in these figures). Collar 130 is also --pinned to shaft 119 and on one side, next to arm 115,1 is formed with a projection 131 for engaging a corresponding projection 132 on the face of arm 115. When hand lever 28 is moved to join the webs, collar 130 turns and projection 131 transmits the turning moergized and tion to arm 115, causing the brake to be eninitiate rotation of the web roll. After hand lever 28 has been returned to its normal position, to separate the joining rollers 24, the arm 115 and brake shoe 110 are free to move under the influence of loop roller 124. V

Means are provided for controlling the operation of the other differential brake (shown at the left ofFigs. 8 and 11) and are substantially duplicates of the parts already described, the parts being formed in reverse. The differential and brake drum 60 is controlled by brake shoe 134, pivoted at 135, and connected to the lower end of pivoted lever 136, which lever is connected to arm 137 by link 138. Arm 137 is loosely journaled on shaft 139, supporting one of the joining rol1-' seneas ers 24, and has an arcuate face formed with projection 140 with which engages the retractable spring-pressed latch 141 slidable in guides 120 on bell crank 142, also loosely mounted on shaft'139. Arm 137 has a projection 144 formed on one face for engagement with the corresponding projection on collar 145, pinned to shaft 139, so that as shaft 139 is turned in joining the webs,-brake shoe 134 will stop rotation of brake drum 60 and start the rotation of the corresponding web roll.

For moving the brake actuating connections for the two brakes, simultaneously and I to the same extent, and in accordance with the movement of lever 28, or loop roller 124, there are provided intermeshing gear se ments 146, 147 formed integrally with bell CI'BJKS 121, 142-and other intermeshing gear segments 148, 149 extending inwardly from collar 150 and lever 28.

As loop roller 124 rises and falls, in accordance with the web tension, each of the brakeshoes and 134 is moved an equal amount to change the web tension regardless of which .web roll is in use. Similarly, a movement of the hand lever. 28 to join the webs w ll apply both brakes and set the new web roll in rotation, regardless of which web roll is at rest.

Means are provided for disconnecting either brake so that it will not be opc ated by a change in web tension or by movement of th hand lever 28 and in the present embodiment, either of the latches 118 or 141 may l withdrawn by a downward pull on head 152 or 153 to-allowthe projection 117 or 140 on the arcuate face of arm or 137 to move over the latch into the position shown at the left of Fig. 11. When so positioned, the latch is free to ride on the projection without causing movement of the corresponding arm and a resulting movement of the brake. This is advantageous in that it allows one of the belts to be rendered inoperative, when a roll is practically exhausted and a new web is to-be joined. j

The invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific mechanisms shown and described but departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the accompanying claims without departing from the principles of the invention and without sacrificing its chief advantages.

lVhat I claim is 1. A printing press including in combination means for supporting a web roll, means frictionally engaging said web roll, gearing connecting said engagingmeans with a source of power, means controlled by the web in passing from the roll to the press for controlling the operation of said gearing, and means for interrupting the control of said gearing byjthe web.

2. A printing press includingin combinaion tion means for supporting a web roll, means frictionally engaging said web roll, differential gearing connecting said web roll-engaging means with a source of power, a brake operating on said differential gearing, and means controlled by the web in passing from the roll to the press for controlling said brake whereby said gearing causes the web rollengaging means to drive or retard the rotation of said web roll.

3. A printing press including in combination means forsupporting a web roll, means frictionally engaging said web roll, differential gearing connecting'said web roll-engaging means with a source of power, an electromagnetic brake operating on said differential gearing and means controlled by the web in passing from the roll to the press for controlling said brake whereby said gearing causes the web roll-engaging means to drive or retard the rotation of said web roll.-

4. A printing press including in combination means for supporting a web roll, means frictionally engaging said web roll, differential gearing connecting said web roll-engaging means with a rotating part of the press, a brake operating on said differential gearing and means controlled by the Web in passing from the roll to the press for con,- trolling said brake whereby said gearing causes the web roll engaging means to drive or retard the rotation of said web roll.

5. A printing press including in combination means for supporting a web roll, means frictionally engaging said web roll, differential gearing connecting said web roll engaging means with a source of power, an electromagnetic brake operating on said differential gearing and a rheostat controlled by the web in passing from the roll to the press for controlling said brake whereby said gearing causes the web roll engaging means to drive or retard the rotation of said web roll.

6. A printing press including in combination means for supporting a web roll, means frictionally engaging said web roll, difierential gearing connecting said web roll engaging means with a rotating part of the press, an electromagnetic brake operating on said differential gearing and a rheostat controlled by the web in passing from the roll to the press for controlling said brake whereby said gearing causes the web roll engaging means to drive or retard the rotation of said web roll.

7. A printing press including in combination means for supporting web rolls, means frictionally engaging each of said rolls, differential gearing connecting each of said web roll engaging means with a common source of power, brake mechanism for controlling said difierential gearings and means operated by the web in running from the roll to the press for varying the effect of said brakes,

thereby to drive or retard the rotation of thereby to drive or retard the rotation of said rolls.

9. A printing press including in combination means for supporting web rolls, means frictionally engaging each of said rolls, differential gearing connecting each of said web roll engaging means with a moving part of the press, electromagnetic brake mechanism for controlling said differential gearings and a variable resistance controlled by the tension of the web between the roll and press for varying the efiect of said brakes thereby to drive or retard rotation of said rolls.

10. A printing press including means for supporting web rolls for alternatlve use, webrenewing means, an operating member therefor, means for frictionally engaging each web roll, gearing for controlling the speed of operation of said engaging means, a brake controlling said gearing, means whereby said operating member operates the brake to cause the engaging means to be rotated by its gearing for driving the web roll for the web-renewing operation, and means operated by the web in passing from the roll to the press for actuating the brake and causing the gearing to o erate the frictional device at different spee s to control the rotation of the web roll.

11. In combination in a printing press, a support for a webroll, means for rotating the web supply roll, anelectro-magnetically opera-ted speed control for said rotating means, and means for governing said speed control means including a resistance operated by the web tension and a hand operated resistance in series therewith.

12. A printing press including in combination means for supporting web rolls for alternative use, web renewing mechanism, an

operating member therefor, a device for engaging with and rotating each roll, gearing for operating said devices, an electromagnetic brake to cause the gearing to operate said devices for initially rotating the supply roll, and electrical means operated by the web for controlling the brake andallowing the gearing to operate and vary the speed of said devi lzps for controlling the rotation of the web r0 s.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

' ERNEST J. SMITH. 

